Press Releases

CAIR-AZ Meets with Federal, Local Law Enforcement on Planned Protest by Armed Bikers Outside Arizona Mosque

(PHOENIX, AZ, 5/28/15) -- The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) yesterday met with federal and local law enforcement authorities to discuss protecting worshipers from members of an armed biker gang who are planning an anti-Islam protest Friday evening at a Phoenix mosque. (NOTE: Friday is the Muslim day of communal prayer or jummah.)

Protest organizers say they will gather outside the Islamic Community Center in Phoenix at 6:15 p.m. and will bring Islamophobic cartoons to harass worshippers.

The rally's organizer is calling on protesters to "to utilize there [sic] second amendment right at this event just in case our first amendment comes under the much-anticipated attack."

"We thank law enforcement authorities for their proactive effort to ensure the safety of the mosque's congregation from hate-filled and armed protesters," said CAIR-AZ Chairman Imraan Siddiqi. "The promise of a heavy police presence at the rally of armed biker gang members will help calm fears of harassment and even attacks on worshippers."

Earlier this week, CAIR-AZ called state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate threats mailed to Phoenix mosques as acts of domestic terrorism.

CAIR similarly called on the Obama administration to treat a planned religiously-motivated attack on a Muslim community in New York as an act of terrorism and to charge the admitted organizer of the attack as a terrorist.

CAIR also recently called on law enforcement authorities in Baltimore County, Md., to step up protection of a mosque and Islamic school in that county following threats to bomb the school's bus and to spill "Muslim blood." CAIR also called on the FBI to investigate the phoned threats as hate crimes.

Other anti-Muslim incidents include threats to mosques in Iowa and Ohio, "No Muslims" graffiti spray-painted on the seal of Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, hate vandalism of a Rhode Island Islamic school and threats to murder Massachusetts Muslims.

CAIR is asking Muslim community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or civilrights@cair.com.

A copy of CAIR's "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety," which was published in response to previous attacks on American Muslim institutions, may be requested through its website:http://www.cair.com/mosque-safety-guide.html

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.